With his off-the-cuff questions, Patrick is able to keep Izzo entertained and on his toes.

And with Izzo's sense of humor, he's able to hang with Patrick and enjoy his time on the show.

The Spartans head coach addressed some of the recent, untimely rumors about him leaving Michigan State for Oregon.

It's worth listening to the whole interview here, but the best segment begins with Patrick asking Izzo who he'd hire as head basketball coach if he were an athletic director looking for someone to build his program for the long haul.

Izzo: Because I've been here so long, you've gotta get something. They know I'm probably never leaving ...

Patrick: "Probably never."

Izzo: ... until they wanna get rid of me.

Patrick: Would it be your decision or their decision?

Izzo: I think it would be their decision, in the end. (Laughs) I mean, we're all hired to be fired. Remember that!

Patrick: OK, here's one for you.

Izzo: OK.

Patrick: New Jersey Nets.

Izzo: Yeah, y'know, the NBA thing is – I think everybody who coaches thinks about coaching at the highest level.

Patrick: You've flirted with this – with the Hawks, with the Bulls. Here's a new owner – a billionaire – going in to coach the Nets ... you could start at the bottom.

Izzo: Why would he want me? That's the better question than why would I want them. I have no pro experience.

Patrick: But, somebody will tell him that this guy at Michigan State is really good.

Izzo:(Laughs)

Patrick: And that's how it works, and then he'll go, "OK, I want Tom Izzo." Do you speak Russian?

Izzo: No, I don't speak Russian. I barely speak English!

Patrick: Will you learn to speak Russian?

Izzo: Sure. Sure.

Patrick: So would the Nets be something you would entertain?

Izzo: Y'know, I'm not gonna entertain anything but trying- How come we're talking about this when we're trying to win our third national championship as a university here and do something really special?!

Patrick: But I'll talk to you after you win the title, coach. I mean, right now, you're acting like you're a fife & drum, bugle corps – you're wounded: "We got no shot, we lost our star guard. Y'know, Butler's at home; they're on a winning streak."

Izzo: Now wait a second, I didn't say that. I said those are question marks we have ...

Patrick: Oh, OK.

Izzo: ... but we've had that for most of this tournament run.

Patrick: Would you be interested in the Nets job?

Izzo:(Laughs) I don't think so.

Patrick: OK. So who're you hiring?

Izzo: Oh yeah, we're back to who I'm hiring!

In the end Izzo settles on someone nice and uncontroversial: former Indiana coach Bobby Knight.